Donny Benét

"Satisfaction guaranteed"
After humble lo-fi beginnings in the Australian art-pop underground, Donny Benet
has expanded his cult-like following across the globe with a resonant array of
danceable repertoire dealing with love and affection. New album Mr Experience
marks a new chapter, informed by a wealth of musical
and personal development.
For Mr Experience, Donny envisioned a soundtrack to a dinner party set in the late
1980s. While his earlier recordings drew inspiration from DIY pop conspirators such
as Ariel Pink and John Maus, Donny channelled the stylings of Bryan Ferry and Hiroshi
Yoshimura as the impetus for new material, evident on the intimacy found on 'Girl
Of My Dreams' and its lush production (with a soothing whistle-along chorus for good
measure).
Sincerity has been a key component of Donny Benet's output since the beginning. His
songs deal with genuine emotion served on a kitsch platter. An alter-ego manifested in
the beginning of the 2010s, Donny has blurred the lines of artifice to create a back catalogue
that can embrace and challenge - often simultaneously - the notion of irony in art.
Mr Experience moves further away from ironic notions as Donny explores lyrical and
musical themes which embody observations of maturation in his audience, his tightknit
musical community, and himself. While 'mature' is a term that often rings hollow as an
album descriptor, the term couldn't be more apt for Mr Experience.
Previous album The Don was created with the luxury of time. The phenomenal response
to that album across Europe and the United States - fuelled by accompanying music
videos clocking in views in the millions - meant that there were scant windows of opportunity
to write and record a follow-up.
With a legacy in Sydney's music community, working with Sarah Blasko, and tightknit
collaborators Jack Ladder and Kirin J Callinan, Donny Benet is accustomed to collaboration
on the stage and in the studio (most notably on the 2014 fu